One of the great things about MySQL is the superior innovation model that’s used to deliver database server software. Rather than relying solely on internal engineers who create and maintain a piece of software (as in a traditional software company), MySQL partners with the millions of active users across the world who take advantage of the open source model and daily extend the MySQL server to do new and pioneering things. These innovations can then be submitted to MySQL AB, tested, validated, and rolled into the database server so everyone can benefit from the creativity of the very active MySQL community. Read More »

I live in absolute and abject poverty. No, I don't mean financially - I've been blessed beyond what I deserve and MySQL pays me very well. What I mean is that I am utterly time poor. Isn't it amazing how you can be so free in terms of lifestyle and yet have so little time to enjoy and benefit from it all? There are so many options and choices in the world that many times you have a hard time knowing just what to say "Yes" to and what to turn down. Trust me - you'll face this dilemma at the upcoming MySQL User's Conference. Our chairman, Jay Pipes, has outdone himself and put together the most engaging and power-packed agenda that we've ever had. The presenter's list reads like a who's who in the open source and modern database world, with sessions that address everything from deep dives down into database internals to the business side of implementing online database applications. You will find yourself hard-pressed to put together a personal attendee schedule because there will be so much you'll want to see and hear. Read More »

This year many American states and Canadian provinces will switch to daylight saving time on March 11 (the second Sunday of March) instead of switching on the first Sunday of April as happened during previous years. Read More »

In Windows and Internet web business applications development the connection to the MySQL database server is critical and requires high-level of security. In ADO.NET database technology the connection is defined in the Connection String property of the connection object. Defining and storing the MySQL Connection String properly is an important application setting task for developers today. In this article I'll show you how to setup and secure MySQL Connection String for Windows application development using VB.NET 2005. Also the difference of programming code between VB.NET 2003 and 2005 will be provided for data loading using MySQL Connector/NET 5.0.3 database driver. Read More »

Every now and then I get a big reminder of how great it is to be a part of the open source way of doing things. Having a strong community of MySQL lovers who use the free and open source MySQL database server and pay MySQL AB with code contributions and bug reports is truly a great way to develop rock solid and innovative software. Some contributions that come back to MySQL are small, but others are very large indeed. What would be large, you ask? How about a new, powerful transactional storage engine? Read More »